Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can take your own passport photo using your smartphone or camera. Just upload the photo to Passport Photo Friend, and we'll crop and adjust it to meet US passport photo requirements.

Passport Photo Friend is an online tool that transforms your everyday photo into a passport-compliant image. Simply upload or take a photo, and our app will automatically crop, adjust, and remove the background. You can download the photo or have prints shipped to your address.

Passport Photo Friend costs $11 for a digital download and $16 for printed photos shipped to your address. Prices include automatic cropping, background removal, and compliance checks.

Yes, our service ensures that your photo meets the official US Department of State passport photo guidelines, including size, background, and facial expression requirements.

With Passport Photo Friend, you can get your digital passport photos instantly after processing. Simply upload your photo, and within seconds our AI will transform it into a compliant passport photo ready for download. For printed photos, processing is immediate with delivery in 3-5 business days.

Yes, passport photos created online with Passport Photo Friend are fully accepted for US passport applications. Our service ensures all photos meet the official Department of State requirements for both printed submissions and digital passport renewals. Thousands of customers have successfully used our photos for their passport applications.

Absolutely! Passport Photo Friend works for visa applications to most countries, including US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Schengen countries. Our service automatically adjusts your photo to meet the specific requirements of different visa types, ensuring your application won't be rejected due to photo issues.

Our AI passport photo verification system analyzes your photo against 20+ official requirements, including head position, facial expression, background color, lighting, and dimensions. The AI identifies potential issues that might cause rejection and automatically corrects them when possible. This ensures your passport photo meets all government specifications before submission.

While CVS and Walgreens offer in-store passport photo services for $14-20, Passport Photo Friend provides greater convenience and often better quality at a lower price. With our service, you can take photos at home, get AI-powered compliance checks, receive digital copies for $11, and have the option for home delivery of prints for $16. Plus, you can retake photos unlimited times until you're satisfied—something not possible with in-store services.

Your uploaded photo should be at least 600x600 pixels. We'll automatically resize and crop it to the required 2x2 inches (51x51 mm) for US passports.

For best results, upload a photo with a resolution of 300 DPI or higher. This ensures that both digital and printed versions are sharp and clear.

No. Glasses, hats, and head coverings are not allowed unless worn for religious or medical reasons. If allowed, they must not obscure your face or cast shadows.

Shouldn't matter! Well, actually, the background should be plain white or off-white. But don't worry if your photo has a different background—Passport Photo Friend will automatically remove and replace it with a compliant white background.

Use a neutral facial expression with both eyes open and mouth closed. Slight, natural smiles are allowed, but avoid showing teeth or using exaggerated expressions.

For 2025, US passport photos must be exactly 2x2 inches (51x51 mm) square. Your head must measure between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (25-35 mm) from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head. Passport Photo Friend automatically sizes your photo to these exact specifications to ensure compliance with current requirements.

Yes, you can wear everyday makeup in your passport photo as long as it doesn't drastically alter your appearance. Natural-looking makeup that you wear regularly is acceptable. Avoid heavy makeup that significantly changes your facial features, as your passport photo should represent your everyday appearance for identification purposes.

Wear everyday clothing for your passport photo. Avoid white tops that might blend with the background, uniforms, or clothing that looks like uniforms. Religious attire worn daily is permitted. Choose solid colors over busy patterns for the best results. Remember, your passport will be valid for up to 10 years, so select clothing that won't appear dated quickly.

While the official requirement is a neutral expression for all ages, the US Department of State is slightly more lenient with babies and young children. A natural, closed-mouth smile is acceptable for children, but showing teeth is still not recommended. The most important requirements for children's passport photos are that their eyes are open, they're looking at the camera, and their face is clearly visible without any objects or hands in the frame.

Your passport photo must be taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance. This requirement ensures your passport contains an up-to-date image for identification purposes. If your appearance has changed significantly (weight loss/gain, facial surgery, gender transition, etc.), you should use a recent photo even if your passport isn't expired. Passport Photo Friend timestamps all photos, helping you prove they meet the recency requirement.

Printed passport photos cost $16, which includes printing and shipping directly to your address.

Most orders arrive within 3-5 business days. Expedited shipping options are available for faster delivery.

Printed photos are delivered as standard 2x2 inch prints on high-quality matte or glossy photo paper, compliant with US passport requirements.

While we don't offer same-day physical delivery, you can get instant digital passport photos that you can print locally. For urgent needs, we recommend our digital download option ($11) which you can take to any local printing service like CVS, Walgreens, Staples, or FedEx Office for immediate printing. Alternatively, select our expedited shipping option during checkout for next-day delivery in most metropolitan areas.

With our standard printed photo package ($16), you'll receive 6 identical passport-sized photos (2x2 inches) on professional photo paper. This provides enough photos for your passport application (which requires 2 photos) plus extras for visa applications or other identification documents. With our digital download option ($11), you'll receive a digital sheet with 6 photos that you can print multiple times as needed.

Our passport photos are printed on professional-grade photo paper that meets all US Department of State requirements. We use high-quality, bright white paper with a matte finish (the preferred finish for passport photos as it reduces glare). The paper is acid-free and archival quality, ensuring your photos will remain in perfect condition throughout the application process and beyond.

Yes, we ship passport photos internationally to most countries. International shipping typically takes 7-14 business days depending on the destination country. For international customers, we recommend our digital download option ($11) for immediate access to your passport photos, which you can print locally. We ensure all photos meet the specific requirements of your destination country's passport or visa specifications.

Yes, all printed passport photo orders include tracking information. Once your photos are shipped, you'll receive an email with your tracking number and estimated delivery date. You can use this tracking number on our website or the carrier's website to monitor your delivery status in real-time. For any delivery concerns, our customer service team is available to assist you at help@passportphotofriend.com.

Ensure your photo is at least 1000x1000 pixels (or larger) and in JPEG or PNG format. If the problem persists, try using a different device to access Passport Photo Friend or a different device to take the photo. For additional help, contact our support team at help@passportphotofriend.com.

After uploading your photo and completing payment, you'll receive a download link. Simply click the link to save your photo as a PNG file. We'll also email you directly with the a link to download your photo.

We accept photos in JPEG and PNG formats. The final digital photo is provided in PNG format to meet US passport photo submission requirements.

To take a good passport photo with your smartphone: 1) Find a well-lit area with soft, even lighting (avoid harsh shadows). 2) Stand 2-3 feet in front of a light-colored wall. 3) Ask someone to take your photo or use a tripod (no selfies). 4) Position the camera at eye level, 4-6 feet away. 5) Look directly at the camera with a neutral expression. 6) Take multiple photos and upload the best one to Passport Photo Friend. Our AI will handle cropping, background removal, and compliance checks to create a perfect passport photo from your smartphone image.

Yes, you can use a webcam photo for your passport application if the quality is sufficient. For best results: 1) Ensure good, even lighting on your face. 2) Position yourself against a plain background. 3) Sit at an appropriate distance so your head and shoulders are clearly visible. 4) Look directly at the camera with a neutral expression. After capturing your webcam photo, upload it to Passport Photo Friend, and our system will optimize it to meet all passport photo requirements, including background removal and proper sizing.

If our AI verification system flags issues with your photo, you'll receive specific feedback about what needs to be corrected (e.g., lighting problems, inappropriate facial expression, etc.). You can then take a new photo addressing these issues and reupload it at no additional cost. Our system allows unlimited attempts until you get a compliant photo. If you believe the AI has incorrectly flagged your photo, contact our support team at help@passportphotofriend.com for manual review by our passport photo experts.

To print your digital passport photo at home: 1) Download your photo from Passport Photo Friend. 2) Use a color printer with photo-quality settings. 3) Use glossy or matte photo paper (matte is preferred to reduce glare). 4) Set your printer to high quality/photo mode. 5) Ensure 'actual size' or '100%' is selected (no scaling). 6) After printing, measure the photo to verify it's exactly 2x2 inches. 7) Cut carefully along the guidelines with scissors or a paper cutter. If you don't have access to a photo printer, we recommend using our print delivery service or taking the digital file to a local print shop.

Yes, your payment and personal information are completely secure with Passport Photo Friend. We use industry-standard SSL encryption for all transactions and never store your credit card details on our servers. Payments are processed through trusted payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal, which maintain the highest security standards. Additionally, we have a strict privacy policy that prohibits sharing your personal information or photos with third parties. Your passport photos are automatically deleted from our servers 30 days after processing for added security.